Abstract: Method of disposing aqueous-alkali disposable articles is disclosed. The articles are made from films or non-woven webs or composites of films and webs where the film or non-woven web comprises a hydrolytically degradable polymer and preferably also comprises a water soluble polymer. Multilayer microfibers of at least one layer of a hydrolytically degradable polymer and at least one layer of a water soluble polymer are particularly disclosed. The articles have water resistance during preparation, storage, and use with mammals but are dispersible when submersed in water at conditions of elevated temperature, elevated pH, and during a single commercial laundry cycle. The articles solve both the problem of solid waste disposal prevalent with single use garments and the problem of repeated cleansing and recycling of multiple use garments. Contamination associated with the articles of the invention after their use will be disinfected during the commercial laundry cycle that is utilized to disperse the article.

Abstract: Sterilization indicator tapes utilizing moisture-resistant, water-dispersible, pressure sensitive adhesives are provided. The indicator tapes comprise a non-water-dispersible backing having a sterilization indicator thereon, which is coated on at least one side with the moisture-resistant, water-dispersible, pressure sensitive adhesive. The indicator tapes are useful to maintain a sterilization wrapper containing articles to be sterilized in a closed position during sterilization, and normal pre- and post-sterilization handling, while also providing a means to indicate if the wrapped articles have passed through a sterilization cycle. After use, the adhesives coating the indicator tapes disperse in aqueous alkali solutions, such as are found in commercial laundries, while the backing remains intact. Methods of making and using the indicator tapes are also provided.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive adhesive which is dispersible at an alkaline pH but not at an acidic or a neutral pH is disclosed. The adhesive is essentially free from plasticizers (i.e., it contains less than 0.1 part of plasticizer per part of polymer).The polymer is formed from A, B and C monomers. The A monomer is hydrophobic and is an acrylic or methacrylic ester of a non-tertiary C.sub.2 -C.sub.14 alcohol. It comprises from 50 to 80 weight % of the polymer.The B monomer contains .beta.-carboxyethyl acrylate (BCEA) or a salt thereof or a mixture of BCEA or a salt thereof with a vinyl carboxylic acid or a salt thereof. The polymer contains from 10 to 30 weight % of B monomer. The acid groups of the polymer have been neutralized with from 0.5 to 2 equivalents of an alkali metal hydroxide.The C monomer is an X--Y--Z macromer. X is copolymerizable with the A and B monomers. Y is a divalent linking group.

Abstract: Surgical drapes for isolating the knee or other portion of a limb of a patient in surgery wherein the drape comprises a sheet having two fenestrations in elastomeric material to receive the limb of the patient. These fenestrations are located on the drape so that they normally lie in a generally common plane when the drape is placed on a flat surface. Due to the location of the fenestrations, the drape itself has a low profile with respect to the operative site and readily adapts to different limb positions that may be encountered during surgery. This advantage is particularly important in drapes comprising a fluid collection pouch.

Abstract: A flexible sterilized bag which easily unfolds to receive an x-ray cassette and is easily closed using a pressure-sensitive adhesive coating strip located around the bag. The bag is advantageously used in a surgical or operating room environment. The bag is composed of a sterilized bag portion, a cuff formed at the open end of the bag and a pressure-sensitive adhesive coating along the circumference near the open end of the bag. As the cassette is pushed into the bag the adhesive coating strip becomes reoriented so that the adhesive coating on one side of the bag directly faces the remaining adhesive coating on the other side of the bag. The open end of the bag is then sealed by simply pressing the opposing sides of the bag together at the location of the adhesive coating.